Day of Service: Hundreds of volunteers making a difference in one day on May 2

Hundreds of volunteers from seven churches and the community at large in Sammamish, Issaquah, Bellvue and Redmond will spend May 2 working at more than 20 nonprofits across the region. Day of Service event organizers from Sammamish Hills Lutheran and Pine Lake Covenant Churches expect to mobilize about 500 volunteers for the one-day event.

According to the event planners more than 480 volunteers signed on to serve in last year’s event providing more than 2,200 hours of service at 22 not-for-profit organizations in eight communities throughout metropolitan Seattle.

Some of the organizations where volunteers will be rolling up their sleeves this year include Northwest Harvest, Cougar Mountain Zoo, Eastside Baby Corner, Vine Maple Place, Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank, Echo Glen, Eastside Friends of Seniors, Lifewire, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, and Habitat for Humanity.

“Last year’s Day of Service was an exceptional day all around,” said Nancy MacPherson, event founder and member of Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church.

This year marks the fourth year for this community-wide initiative originated by Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. “The best part is we get to go back for a fourth time to many of the organizations we have grown to love. And since we anticipate mobilizing more volunteers we get to partner with new organizations too,” observes MacPherson.

“There are just so many people out there with so many diverse needs that I feel blessed we help people through this event,” adds Anita Betchel, event co-chairman.

“As communities of faith, this is an opportunity for us to share God’s love and grace,” says Pastor John LaMunyon, senior pastor at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. “And we hope to inspire people across all walks of life to experience the joy of offering the humble gift of service.”

Other churches involved in this year’s Day of Service includes Faith United Methodist Church in Issaquah and four wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sammamish, Redmond and Bellvue.

“We were thrilled last year to partner with our friends at Pine Lake Covenant Church, along with others. This year more churches are participating,” observed MacPherson.

Mark Meredith, lead pastor at Pine Lake Covenant Church, says, “We were really excited to be involved with Day of Service. We hope this becomes an annual event for our church as it has for Sammamish Hills Lutheran.”

Meredith adds, “We are glad to help other organizations that are on the front lines making a difference in people’s lives every day.”

“My dream for Day of Service is for the event to grow annually to the point it’s perceived as a community event for the entire Sammamish Plateau and everyone looks forward to joining hands to help others,” MacPherson concludes.